The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh announced Tuesday it is offering eligible faculty and staff a voluntary retirement buyout with a one-time payment equal to 50% of an employee's annual base salary.

UW-Oshkosh becomes the third campus within the UW System to offer buyouts in an effort to reduce its workforce in the face of state budget cuts. UW-Eau Claire was the first, followed last week by UW-Superior.(71)

Weakness in China, India and Western Europe dragged earnings lower at Rockwell Automation Inc., which supplies systems that help factories and business run more smoothly.

Commenting on the deceleration in Asia, particularly China, Rockwell Chief Executive Keith Nosbusch said Wednesday the regions that were weakest in the most recent quarter were the ones that had been reliably strongest in recent years. China alone saw sales drop 13% in the three months ended Dec. 31, he said. | Jan. 30, 2013»Read Full Article

ManpowerGroup Inc., the world's third-biggest staffing and recruitment company, on Wednesday reported a sharp drop in sales and earnings for both the latest quarter and full year.

The Milwaukee-based company derives most of its sales and earnings from outside the U.S., with two-thirds from Europe alone. And Europe's downturn put pressure on a company that helps connect employers and employees. | Jan. 30, 2013»Read Full Article(3)

Net income fell 13% as sales fell in the fourth quarter for Wisconsin Energy Corp., the parent company of We Energies, but the utility company still delivered record full-year profit and results that topped analysts’ forecasts.

Net income in the fourth quarter was $98.8 million, or 43 cents a share, down from $114.1 million, or 49 cents, a year earlier. The results were 2 cents higher than analysts’ projections. Quarterly sales were down 3.7% to $1.07 billion from $1.11 billion. | Jan. 30, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(10)

Kraft Food Group Inc. has agreed to pay a civil forfeiture of $13,911.50 and take corrective steps intended to make sure packages of Oscar Mayer food products weigh what the package claims, state officials said Wednesday.

Kraft, of Northfield, Ill., which owns Oscar Mayer, is taking the action after Wisconsin inspectors allegedly found short-weight packages of meat products in state stores. | Jan. 30, 2013»Read Full Article(14)

ZBB Energy Corp. has signed a business deal with a Moscow company to facilitate the sale of energy storage and power management systems in Russia and nearby countries.

The Menomonee Falls energy storage systems developer has previously announced business deals with partners to allow it to ramp up the introduction of products in China, South Korea and other parts of Asia. | Jan. 30, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(6)

A Milwaukee area lawyer with a long history of run-ins with professional regulators has lost his license to practice.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday revoked the license of Donald Hahnfeld for professional misconduct with two clients, in divorce-related proceedings and a drunken driving defense, and for practicing law while his license was administratively suspended for failing to meet continuing legal education requirements. | Jan. 30, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(11)

Milwaukee would put limits on city financing help to for-profit colleges, as well as development firms that build such schools, under a proposed ordinance.

The Common Council will consider the proposal as for-profit Everest College, just north of the Park East strip, winds down its operations after posting a poor performance in placing its students in jobs. | Jan. 30, 2013»Read Full Blog Post(8)